Adonis questions HS2 timescale

6 June 2012Former transport minister Lord Adonis has criticised the current administration for failing to move quickly enough on the High Speed Two (HS2) rail plan.

Speaking on BBC Radio Four’s Today programme, Adonis suggested the slow pace of progress could mean the line will not be in place before 2030 – four years later than planned.

“This government has been in office for two years and three months and very little of substance has happened since the election,” he said.

“They've carried out one consultation but we still don't have the legislation to get the line up to Birmingham, they're delaying consultation on the compensation scheme and they still haven't published the routes north of Birmingham.”

Transport Secretary Justine Greening has already defended criticism that the HS2 bill did not feature in last month’s Queen’s Speech, insisting that it remains the government’s intention to publish the bill in the next Parliament, with the legislation being passed ahead of the General Election in 2015.